Florida State standout safety Derwin James saw Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford connect with tight end Cam Serigne for a 22-yard pass over the middle, and had to make a split-second decision.

Luckily for James and the Seminoles, he made the right one.

James adjusted his body to lead with his shoulder when laying a hit on Serigne to stop the play, which ACC officials deemed permissible after a review. The targeting penalty could have dismissed James from the second half of FSU’s eventual 26-19 victory.

“I tried to adjust my angle so I would go in with my shoulder,” James said of the play on Monday. “If it was targeting, I’d live with it. I thought I did the best that I could not trying to and helmet to helmet him.”